Quiz: Howstuffworks

Can You Complete the Lyrics to These 70s and 80s Love Songs?

Teresa McGlothlin

Image: SolStock/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

You might sound like a showstopping performer when you belt out your favorite love songs while you are driving, but we're curious to see how you do when we take the music away. If you can complete the lyrics from all of these '70s and '80s songs, we are going to be truly impressed. Not only will you show off your musical knowledge, but you will also warm our hearts by seeing the way you have absorbed love over the decades.

With monster hits like Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" and The Jackson 5's "I'll Be There," both decades were full of chart-topping earworms that we still love today. There's no short supply of modern love songs, but this quiz will put your love of the classics to the test. All you have to do is fill in the lyrical blank with one of the responses that we've offered.

If you find yourself overwhelmed by the number of love songs written back then, we advise singing the song to yourself. If that doesn't work, we've given you a hint to help you along. Will you be able to complete as many of the lyrics as you think you can? Step up to the mic and show us what you've got!

It's on your head. Bad English may not have had the best grammar, but they had a huge hit with the 1989 release of "When I See You Smile." Although it was performed by the American/English band, it was legendary Diane Warren who claims songwriting credits. "When I see you smile, I can _____ the world."

Face

Shake

Make

Grace

Who knew?

Love isn't light. In 1988, Breathe released the epic power ballad named "Hands to Heaven" from their debut album, "All That Jazz." Before becoming Breathe in 1984, an earlier version of the band was called Catch 22. "Tonight, I need your sweet caress. Hold me in the ________."

Wilderness

Black dress

Darkness

Hot mess

Really?

Onions make you do this. In 1973, the country ballad named "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" was recorded by sensation Charlie Rich. Taken from the "Behind Closed Doors" album, the '70s love song reached No. 1 on the charts in both the United States and Canada. "Hey, did you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world? And if you did, was she ______?"

Dressed up

Crying

With anyone else

Flying

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These happen when you sleep. Best known for his sultry, baritone voice, Barry White recorded "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" in 1974. Although the song was originally intended to be a country song, White's R&B version was used in Black Cherry Vanilla Coke ads. "My first, my last, my everything, and the answer to all my ______."

Questions

Prayers

Dreams

Problems

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Don't forget to buckle up. In 1987, Def Leppard's song titled "Love Bites" caused a little controversy when lyrics were misheard by listeners. Another power ballad that was originally intended to be a country song, it is the only No. 1 hit Def Leppard ever achieved. "I don't want to touch you too much baby 'cause making love to you might _____ me crazy."

Drive

Make

Send

Paint

Indeed!

Bruce was all kinds of this. REO Speedwagon might be best known for their '80s songs, but they were formed all the way back in 1967. "Can't Fight This Feeling" was the second No. 1 hit the band released. "You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night, and I'm getting closer than I ever thought I _____."

Should

Would

Fight

Might

Is that true?

Doing this requires one eye. "Right Time of the Night" was written and presented to Arista Records in 1976 by Peter McCann but Arista felt that the performance was lacking. Instead of recording the song with McCann, former Leonard Cohen backup singer Jennifer Warnes was given the job. "It's the right time of the night. The stars are ______ above. It's the right time of the night for making love."

Winking

Blinking

Twinkling

Sinking

Is that true?

Also called a jester. Written by members of Peter, Paul, and Mary, "Torn Between Two Lovers" was recorded by Mary MacGregor at the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. By 1977, the song had taken the No. 1 slot on the U.S. pop charts. "Torn between two lovers. Feeling like a _____. Loving you both is breaking all the rules."

Tool

Fool

Mule

Loo

How are you enjoying this quiz?

A '90s movie. 1987's hit "Just Like Heaven" was written and recorded in France by The Cure. Singer Robert Smith has stated that the lyrics were inspired by a getaway to the oceanside. Even though it's one of the groups most popular songs, it only ever reached No. 40 on the charts. "Show me, show me, show me how you do that trick. The one that makes me ______."

Dream

Lead

Scream

Beam

Really?

One less S than pie. Before recording "Never Gonna Give You Up" in 1987, Rick Astley worked as a studio assistant. Recorded in 1986 and released in 1987, the song stayed at top of British charts for five weeks, making it the most successful song of the year. "Never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down. Never gonna run around and _____ you."

Dessert

Upset

Usurp

Desert

Indeed!

It rhymes with birds. From the album of the same name, Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly" was a giant debut. With her soaring voice, she took home the Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance after the song's release in 1973. "Strumming my pain with his fingers. Singing my life with his ______."

Voice

Birds

Words

Lyrics

Is that true?

They have pearly gate there. "Heaven" by Bryan Adams was recorded in 1983. However, it didn't make the charts until 1985. Once it was there, it remained there for more than a year a half after the song's original release date, and it won an MTV award for the video with the best cinematography. "Baby, you're all that I want when you're lying here in my arms. I'm finding it hard to believe we're in ______."

An affair

Heaven

Bed

Love

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It's the nicer option. Robert Palmer might have been one of the people who helped to define the '80s sound, but "Bad Case of Loving You" was actually recorded in 1979. Although easily recognizable, the song only rose to No. 61 on the U.K. Singles Charts. "Doctor, doctor. Give me the news. I've got a bad case of ______."

The Flu

Poison ivy

Loving you

The blues

Is that true?

It's so pretty. British artist Joe Cocker released "You Are So Beautiful" as a cover song in 1974. Originally recorded by Billy Preston, Cocker's version was a little more downtempo. "You Are So Beautiful" was a big hit for Cocker, taking him all the way to No. 5. "You're everything I hope for -- everything I need. You are so ______ to me."

Beautiful

Special

Important

Wonderful

Who knew?

It's not innocent. From the album of the same name, "Careless Whisper" was a huge solo debut for George Michael. Written with his partner from Wham, it received critical acclaim and stacked up nominations in both the U.S. and the U.K. "Should've known better than to cheat a friend. My ______ feet have got no rhythm."

Cold

Big

Guilty

Itchy

Is that true?

It rhymes with memes. In May 1976, "Let Your Love Flow" made The Bellamy Brothers international sensations. Another song that was intended for the country music fan base, it took the country duo straight into pop territory. "Just let your love flow like a mountain spring, and let your love grow with the smallest of ______."

Flings

Things

Dreams

Wings

Who knew?

Alphabetically, it's first. From Air Supply's fifth album, "All Out of Love" helped to define the band's sound. In 1980, the song struggled on the charts, but in 2003, it was added to VH1's list of top 100 love songs. "I'm all out of love. I'm so lost without you. I know you were right ______ for so long."

Trying

Hoping

Learning

Believing

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They wear capes. After leaving the band Chicago, Peter Cetera returned to the studio to complete a solo album. One of the most successful songs from his first album, it was also featured on the soundtrack of "The Karate Kid II." Cetera's wife had a hand in helping to write the song. "I am a man who would fight for your honor. I'll be the ______ you've been dreaming of."

Hero

Man

Husband

Best friend

Who knew?

It's not here. The Jackson 5 had a lot of memorable songs, but 1970's "I'll Be There" was one of their most loved. Written by Motown's Berry Gordy, the vocal melodies were shared by both Michael Jackson and Jermaine Jackson. "You and I must make a pact. We must bring salvation back. We're there is love, I'll be ______."

Loyal

There

Truthful

Steady

Really?

Monopoly. "Take My Breath Away" is the 1986 song recorded by the band, Berlin. One of the only hits for the band, the song was featured in the movie, "Top Gun," and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. "Watching every motion in my foolish lover's ______."

Haze

Game

Maze

Way

Did you know that?

It's first alphabetically. If you've ever watched the movie, "Saturday Night Fever," you have most likely heard the Bee Gees' "How Deep is Your Love." In 1977, it rose all the to the No. 3 spot on charts in the U.K. and Australia. "How deep is your love? I really mean to learn 'cause we're living in a world of ______."

Fools

Liars

Weirdos

Honesty

Really?

It sort of rhymes with false. With a legacy dating back decades, Tina Turner hit it out of the park again in 1984 with her song, "What's Love Got to Do With It." Taken from the "Private Dancer" album, the song was considered one of the decade's best songs by "Rolling Stone." "You must understand that the touch of your hand makes my _______ react."

Heart

Pulse

Body

Mind

Indeed!

___ and seek. Considered '70s soft rock, "Sometimes When We Touch" was a chartbuster for singer/songwriter Dan Hill. Released as a single in 1977, Dolly Parton told "Entertainment Weekly" she wished she had written the song. "Sometimes when we touch, the honesty's too much, and I have to close my eyes and ______."

Sleep

Feel

Fly

Hide

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Dinner and a _____. Hitting the No. 1 spot in both the U.S. and the U.K., Foreigner's "I Want to Know What Love Is" was released on the 1984 album, "Agent Provocateur." Formed in 1976, Foreigner is still performing concerts around the world. "I want to know what love is. I want you to show me. I want to feel what love is. I know you can ______ me."

Own

Show

Hold

Know

Indeed!

A, B, C ... In 1977, Rita Coolidge recorded "Higher and Higher." It was originally recorded by Jackie Wilson in 1967, but a reworking of the song resulted in the '70s, female-led version released on A&M Records. "Your love is lifting me higher than I've ever been before. So, keep it up and quench my _______."

Fire

Thirst

Pyre

Desire

Did you know that?

Hopefully, it's in tune. When Huey Lewis and The News sang "The Power of Love" in 1985, it was specifically for the song to be used on the "Back to the Future" soundtrack. As a result of the movie's popularity, the song rocketed to No. 1 on the American charts. "The power of love is a curious thing. Make one man weep. Make another man _______."

Sing

Pray

Laugh

Cringe

Did you know that?

You can touch that? "When I Need You" was originally released by Albert Hammond, but Leo Sayer's version was more popular after being released in 1976. The song had such a strong appeal that Sayer once performed a version of it on "The Muppet Show." "When I need love, I reach out my hands and I touch ______."

Your face

Love

Your hands

Your skin

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Fish on! Written as a letter to his wife, "Right Here Waiting" was recorded in 1989 by Richard Marx. Marx enjoyed three chart-topping songs during the '80s and endorsed a cover of his song by Monica in 1999. "Oceans apart day after day, and I slowly go insane. I hear your voice ______, but it doesn't stop the pain."

On my mind

All the time

And see your smile

On the line

Really?

It's not normal. "Love Walks In" was written on the spot by Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen in 1986. Hagar is said to have walked into the room when Van Halen was toying with the music, and he insisted that they finish it. "And then you sense a change. Nothing feels the same. All your dreams are ______."

Far away

Slipping away

Strange

In your face

Who knew?

What do you sing? Although Debby Boone's 1977 version of "You Light Up My Life" was a cover, it sat at No. 1 on the U.S. charts for more than two months. The songwriter behind the song, Joe Brooks, was awarded Best Song of the Year for his work. "You light up my life. You give me hope to carry on. You light up my days and fill my nights with ______."

Song

Stars

Hugs

Longing

Did you know that?

Not you. "Every Time You Go Away" was the product of Daryl Hall from the '80s duo, Hall and Oats. Hall and Oats recorded the song in 1980, but it didn't reach its peak success until it was recorded by Paul Young in 1985. "Every time you go away, you take a piece of _____ with you."

My heart

Me

My soul

Love

Indeed!

It's like a pulse. Released in 1985, "How Will I Know" was set to be recorded by Janet Jackson. Producers, however, felt that Whitney Houston had the better voice for the song. It was one of five singles from her debut album. "How will I know if he really loves me? I say a prayer with every ______."

Sigh

Breath

Heartbeat

Thought

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It's not right. With more than one million records in sales, Pat Benatar's "Love is a Battlefield" left a memorable mark on the '80s. In addition to the raucous recording, Benatar also released an edgy video that featured a darker side of life and caused a little controversy. "We are strong. No one can tell us we're ______. Searching our hearts for so long."

Wrong

Weak

Strange

Right

Did you know that?

Secret agents wear them. As one of the tracks from "Dirty Dancing," "Hungry Eyes" featured the voice of singer Eric Carmen. Originally a member of The Raspberries, Carmen is also credited with writing hits like "Almost Paradise" and "All By Myself." "With these hungry eyes, one look at you and I can't ______.

Deny

Disguise

Cry

Lie

Indeed!

The semester has started. From Rod Stewart's album, "Every Picture Tells a Story," "Maggie May" paints a picture of two young lovers. Rod Stewart claims that he wrote the song in 1971 about an older woman he had met at a festival when he was younger. "Wake up, Maggie. I think I've got something to say to you. It's late September and I really should be ______."

Back at school

Cleaning the pool

Saving for school

Playing the fool

Indeed!

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